Confectioners compete for gold at IBA 2025
Representatives of five nations will produce creations during the two-day competition.
From May 21-22, confections from five countries will compete for the gold medal at the IBA UIBC Cup of Confectioners. In Hall 14, the confectioners will aim to demonstrate the highest level of confectionery art at the trade fair for bakery, confectionery, and snacks. An jury of international experts will judge the showpieces, and the award ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 22.
Representatives of five nations will face this challenge in glass show bakeries: the best confectioners from Albania, Germany, Korea, Mexico, and Vietnam. The competition for the confectioners‘ gold medal is organized jointly by the German Bakers‘ Confederation and the German Association of Confectioners.
Following the theme of "Art," the confectioners will produce creations during the two-day competition: a showpiece, a glazed cake, three different types of petit fours, chocolates, modelled figures, and themed pastries. All ingredients must be edible and all decorations must be made on site.
International jury
The jury members include: Remy Corbet (Norway), Antonio Carlos Henriques (Brazil), Marios Papadopoulos (Greece) and chairman René Klinkmüller (Germany).
"I expect to see a lot of creativity and precision in the execution from the participants. Flavor plays a very important role for me and appearance definitely ought not be taking precedence over taste, even if the competition’s motto is the art of confectionery. Each country should play to its strengths and incorporate a piece of their home country on the display table," emphasizes jury chairman René Klinkmüller.
Attending the competition live
Trade fair visitors can watch the works of art being created live from 9.30 am on Wednesday and Thursday, May 21 and 22 respectively. Petit fours and pastries will already be judged on Wednesday at 10 a.m. and cakes and chocolates later on at 1 pm. Figures and showpieces will be judged at 3 pm.
The next day, May 22 will be the second round of the presentations, at 1 pm and at 3 pm in the IBA Forum. Concluding the competition, at 4 pm, the winners will be chosen at the award ceremony in the IBA FORUM. The special prize of "Best Showpiece" and the jury president's creative prize will also be awarded.
The participants, in alphabetical order, are:
- Albania: Vasil Terziu and Bledian Ibrahimllari
- Germany: Amelie Natterer und Marleen Oehmke
- Korea: In Seok Kim and Kyung Joo Jang
- Mexico: Gustavo Adolfo Fragoso and Oscar Paniagua Galindo
- Vietnam: Le Truc Huynh and Vi le Thi Thanh
Related: IBA reveals top 10 highlights
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